Opinion in Sri Lanka Split Over Ties With TN: Study

COLOMBO: Sri Lankans are divided on forging “closer” ties with Tamil Nadu, says a survey conducted by TNS Lanka, a branch of the world-wide market research agency TNA Global.

A summary of the survey published in Weekend FT also says that Lankans also do not want to “appease” India, even though they see India as the most important country for Lanka. They also want Lanka to be equidistant from India and China.

To the proposition “Lanka should have closer ties with Tamil Nadu”, 36 per cent said that they “disagree” and 16 percent said that they “strongly disagree.” Twenty nine per cent said “agree” and 19 per cent stated that they are “unsure”.

The survey found Sri Lankans to be divided or unsure about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In response to the proposition “Narendra Modi’s election as Prime Minister is good for Sri Lanka”, 37 per cent said that they “agree” and 13 per cent said “strongly agree”). Sixteen per cent said that they “disagree”, 34 per cent said that they are “unsure”.

A substantial majority of Lankans do not want Lanka to do more for India. Reactions to the proposition: “Our government must do more to appease the Indians” are as follows: 41 per cent said that they “disagree” and 23 percent said that they “strongly disagree,” (accounting for 64 percent).

However, an overwhelming majority of Lankans consider India to be the most important country for them. The responses to the proposition: “India is more important to us than any other nation,” are as follows: 57 per cent said that they “agree”; and 26 per cent said that they “strongly agree”.

But no matter how important India may be, Lankans want to be equidistant from India and China.

To the proposition “Our ties with India and China should be well balanced”, 53 per cent said “agree” and 20 per cent said “strongly agree”.

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